Coming to prominence in the 1920s as an inventive trumpet and cornet player, Armstrong was a foundational influence in jazz, shifting the focus of the music from collective improvisation to solo performance. With his instantly-recognizable gravelly voice, Armstrong was also an influential singer, demonstrating great dexterity as an improviser, bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes. He was also skilled at scat singing (vocalizing using sounds and syllables instead of actual lyrics).
Renowned for his charismatic stage presence and voice almost as much as for his trumpet-playing, Armstrong's influence extends well beyond jazz music, and by the end of his career in the 1960s, he was widely regarded as a profound influence on popular music in general. Armstrong was one of the first truly popular African-American entertainers to "cross over", whose skin-color was secondary to his music in an America that was severely racially divided. He rarely publicly politicized his race, often to the dismay of fellow African-Americans, but took a well-publicized stand for desegregation during the Little Rock Crisis. His artistry and personality allowed him socially acceptable access to the upper echelons of American society that were highly restricted for a black man.
Armstrong was born and brought up in New Orleans, a culturally diverse town with a unique musical mix of creole, ragtime, marching bands, and blues. Although from an early age he was able to play music professionally, he didn't travel far from New Orleans until 1922, when he went to Chicago to join his mentor, King Oliver. Oliver's band played primitive jazz, a hotter style of ragtime, with looser rhythms and more improvisation, and Armstrong's role was mostly backing. Slow to promote himself, he was eventually persuaded by his wife Lil Hardin to leave Oliver, and In 1924 he went to New York to join the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. At the time, there were a few other artists using the rhythmic innovations of the New Orleans style, but none did it with the energy and brilliance of Armstrong, and he quickly became a sensation among New York musicians. Back in Chicago in 1925, he made his first recordings with his own group, Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five, and these became not only popular hits but also models for the first generation of jazz musicians, trumpeters or otherwise.
Other hits followed through the twenties and thirties, as well as troubles: crooked managers, lip injuries, mob entanglements, failed big-band ventures. As jazz styles changed, though, musical purists never lost any respect for him -- although they were sometimes irritated by his hammy onstage persona. Around the late forties, with the help of a good manager, Armstrong's business affairs finally stablilized, and he began to be seen as an elder statesman of American popular entertainment, appearing in Hollywood films, touring Asia and Europe, and dislodging The Beatles from the number-one position with Hello Dolly". Today many people may know him as a singer (a good one), but as Miles Davis said: “You can’t play nothing on modern trumpet that doesn’t come from him."
The 62-year-old Armstrong became the oldest act to top the US charts when "Hello Dolly" reached #1 in 1964. Four years later Satchmo also became the oldest artist to record a UK #1, when "What a Wonderful World" hit the top spot.
Santa Baby
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Santa Baby, just slip a sable under the tree
For me
Been an awful good girl
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa baby, a '54 convertible too
Light blue
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be just as good
If you'll check off my Christmas list
Santa baby, I want a yacht and really that's not a lot
Been an angel all year
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa honey, one little thing I really need the deed
To a platinum mine
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with a duplex
And checks
Sign your 'x' on the line
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tif-fa-ny
I really do believe in you
Lets see if you believe in me
Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing
A ring
I don't mean on the phone
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry, tonight
The song "Santa Baby" by Louis Armstrong and Friends is a Christmas classic that has been popular since its release in 1953. The song is all about a woman who is asking Santa Claus for luxurious gifts – such as a sable coat, a convertible, a yacht, a platinum mine, a duplex and even a ring – all while reminding him that she has been "an awful good girl". The woman also hints at her romantic desires by saying "Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed", and asks Santa to deliver these gifts quickly through the chimney. She also offers to reward Santa by trimming her Christmas tree and showing off her decorations from Tiffany. The song ends by highlighting her final request, a ring, and urging Santa to hurry down the chimney that night.
The lyrics of the song are a perfect blend of humor, romance, and luxury – something that appeals to people of all ages. The song has been covered by many artists over the years and has become a holiday favorite. Interestingly, the songwriters of "Santa Baby" used the term "baby" to describe Santa Claus, instead of "Father Christmas" or "Saint Nick", which was a new and innovative approach during that era. The song and its lyrics are a perfect reflection of the post-war era when people were eager to indulge in luxury items.
Line by Line Meaning
Santa Baby, just slip a sable under the tree
Dear Santa Claus, can you please put a sable fur coat under my Christmas tree?
For me
It's for me, personally
Been an awful good girl
I've been a very well-behaved girl this year
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
Please come down the chimney and bring me my presents tonight, Santa
Santa baby, a '54 convertible too
Santa, can you also get me a 1954 convertible car in light blue color?
Light blue
I want the car to be in a light blue color
I'll wait up for you, dear
I'll stay up late and wait for you to arrive, dear Santa
Think of all the fun I've missed
I'm thinking about all the fun experiences I haven't had the opportunity to enjoy yet
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed
I've been a good girl and haven't indulged in romantic experiences with any boys yet
Next year I could be just as good
If Santa brings me the gifts I want, I promise to be just as well-behaved next year
If you'll check off my Christmas list
If Santa can fulfill my wish list, I'll be really grateful
Santa baby, I want a yacht and really that's not a lot
Please bring me a yacht for Christmas, and I don't think it's too much to ask for
Been an angel all year
I've been really, really good throughout the year
Santa honey, one little thing I really need the deed
I need the legal document that proves I own a platinum mine, so please bring it to me
To a platinum mine
I need the deed, which proves my ownership of a platinum mine
Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with a duplex
Dear Santa, can you please fill my Christmas stocking with a duplex apartment?
And checks
Please also include some checks for me in my stocking
Sign your 'x' on the line
Please sign the checks with your 'x' on the designated line
Come and trim my Christmas tree
Please come and help me decorate my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tif-fa-ny
Can we use some fancy decorations from Tiffany & Co. to adorn my Christmas tree?
I really do believe in you
I truly trust in you, Santa Claus, to bring me what I wish for
Lets see if you believe in me
Let's see if Santa believes that I've been good enough to receive all these amazing gifts
Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing
Dear Santa, I forgot to mention one more thing to you
A ring
I want a ring - not the one on the phone
I don't mean on the phone
I'm not talking about a phone ringing sound, but an actual ring for me to wear
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
Dear Santa, please come to my house as soon as possible and deliver my presents down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight
I want Santa to hurry up and come down the chimney to give me the gifts I want for Christmas
Hurry, tonight
Please hurry up, it's urgent
Lyrics © TAMIR MUSIC
Written by: Joan Javits, Philip Springer, Tony Springer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Cheeseanonioncrisps
This song is not about Santa Claus.
Notice the lyrics at first 'listen to the howling- or could that be growling?' 'Pardon my clacking jaw' and 'I don't know why I'm shaking that way.' This guy is scared and trying to convince himself that the scary sounds he hears are Santa Claus.
But maybe he's just in an empty house and got a little spooked. We've all been there right? Maybe he's just telling jokes to himself to cheer himself up- but then 'I can see an eyeball there.' Nope, someone's there alright.
Notice after this the chorus changes to 'say that's you Santa Claus' instead pf 'is that you Santa Claus?'
Then he says 'that's him alright' and jingle bells.
But it could be anything! A shapeshifting demon, a goblin like he mentioned earlier in the song, a phsyco in a suit.
This guy knows deep down that something is very wrong (since when does Santa knock? If he was coming round wouldn't he come down the chimney?) but knows nothing can be done so he has chosen to give in to childlike belief and hope it will all turn out fine. That relieved 'That's him alright!' could be the last words that guy ever said.
Creepy...
Anyway, nice song an' all.
@markherron1407
The Lord bless you and keep you the Lord make His face 🤣 to shine upon you and be gracious to you the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you PEACE ✌️🕊️ Go HUG someone today IF they're been vaccinated and Happy Birthday to Louis Armstrong and Merry Christmas ☃️🎄! Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕!
@bennickss
1953. This is 68 years old and it’s still a great Christmas song!
@ericmuhammed2859
My Dad use to Laugh 😂 😂 Like crazy when he sing this song "is thAt you Santa Claus" LOL I'm going to miss thAt Old Boy my Dad So much
@saigecook6627
I'm singing this for my christmas choir concert
@dehliladay4852
Lol I am too on the 7th!!
@saigecook6627
I am on the 14th
@jasonjohnson4646
i am too, on the 8th
@ejgang5665
Me TOOO
@ejgang5665
On the 20th
@verlondakirchner2281
Louis Armstrong. One of my top jazz performers!